Former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of subjecting him to a political trial in the ongoing N80.2 billion money laundering case against him.
The allegation was raised by his legal team during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, as the trial continued with the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses.
Mr. Bello is standing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite on charges related to conspiracy and money laundering.
The EFCC alleges that Bello and others, in February 2016, converted N80,246,470,088.88 allegedly obtained through a criminal breach of trust, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
Bello has denied the charges.
At the resumed hearing, the EFCC’s seventh prosecution witness, a compliance officer of a commercial bank, was cross-examined on transactions linked to Kogi State local government accounts.
During questioning by Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, the witness was asked whether he knew the purpose of the transactions listed before the court.
“No, my lord,” the witness replied.
When asked if Bello was a local government chairman connected to the transactions, the witness said, “No, the defendant wasn’t a local government chairman.”
EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, later told the court that money laundering transactions are often concealed.
“My lord, there is this casual statement I learnt from my leader; that this is a case of money laundering where payments can be made in disguise,” Pinheiro said.
Responding, Daudu said the prosecution had failed to establish a direct link between Bello and the transactions.
“Very soon, we will know that this is not a money laundering trial but a political trial,” he said.
The defence maintained that the documentary evidence presented so far does not implicate Bello in the local government transactions cited by the EFCC.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to February 5 for the continuation of cross-examination.
The trial is part of a series of cases instituted by the EFCC against the former governor.
The anti-graft agency had earlier declared Bello wanted, citing difficulties in arresting him, and accused the Kogi State Government of shielding him by invoking immunity provisions.
Bello was later arrested and arraigned, while another case was also filed against him at the FCT High Court.
Earlier in the proceedings, the EFCC called Nicholas Ohehomon, a representative of the American International School (AIS), as a prosecution witness.
He testified on school fees paid for Bello’s children, which the EFCC alleges were proceeds of crime.
Ohehomon tendered AIS statements of account, admission letters and payment receipts through Pinheiro.
He confirmed the children’s enrolment and said the school operated a postpaid payment arrangement until graduation.
Bello’s counsel tendered a certified true copy of an FCT High Court judgment involving AIS to challenge the EFCC’s claim on the source of the funds.
Justice Nwite overruled the prosecution’s objection and admitted the document, stating that its relevance would be determined during final consideration of the case.
In a related development, the court recently granted Bello permission to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the 2026 lesser Hajj.
Justice Nwite ordered the temporary release of Bello’s international passport for 10 days from March 13, following an application by the defence.
The prosecution did not oppose the request but opposed any change to the trial dates.
Yahaya Bello remains on trial at the Federal High Court, where proceedings are expected to continue with further examination of financial records and witnesses.
